Uber Goes Gourmet

Ride-sharing phenomenon Uber is planning to officially launch its meal delivery service in select US cities in the coming weeks as part of a pilot program to determine whether or not the company can incorporate logistics into its business model. Uber customers in places like Los Angeles and Chicago will be able to use the UberEats App in order to order from local restaurants and have their food delivered to their door. From People To Food Uber has amassed a network of more than 1 million drivers which the company is hoping will give it a leg up in the competitive food delivery space. Several other startups have sprung up around the country attempting to provide a similar service, but so far with very little success. UberEats has been up and running in Toronto for more than a month and the firm says it believes the US rollout will be equally as successful. The Problem With Logistics Uber drivers may struggle to transition from taxi drivers to delivery people as getting food from one place to another quickly presents new challenges. Not only will the drivers have to leave their cars to pick up food orders, but they may have to find parking while they wait for customers to come out and retrieve their orders. Food And Beyond Depending how the company's food delivery service pans out, many expect that Uber will begin to incorporate more services in time and eventually transition into a logistics company. Package delivery has already been discussed as a possible space to expand into as e-commerce picks up speed and more and more retailers look for ways to cut down on shipping costs.